If one decided to install one of their decoders can they be ordered with the required sounds installed by the supplier or is it necessary for the end user to purchase the programmer?
Generally you can order it directly from a vendor and they will program the specific sound files that you want for your loco. Just make sure there’s a drop-down option at the time you order it online, or ask if you are ordering it by phone. (Otherwise you’ll get a blank decoder) The ESU website lists the various sound files on their website. Be sure you have the correct 5-digit sound file number before ordering.
Should you decide you’d rather install the sound files to your Loksound decoder yourself, or experiment with different sound files to see which one you like better, you’ll need the LokProgrammer to do that.
Tom
Yes, any of the well known dealers definitely will install your choice of file before shipping the decoder - Modeltrainstuff, Yankee Dabbler, Litchfield, Tony’s, etc. You only need the Lokprogrammer if you want to buy blank decoders and download the sound files right from ESU. All other CVs can be programmed the same as any decoder, though it IS a lot faster with the Lokprogrammer, somply because it reads and writes the CVs using the same proprietary method used to download the sound files.
–Randy
You may already know this but if not you should. Even if you do not purchase the LokProgrammer hardware, which is expensive but good, you can install the software that runs it on your PC. This will give you great insight into how the decoder is programmed. It also contains a handy feature, namely 'Show changed CVs…" under the Tools menu. Make a proposed change in the software, then refer to the changed CVs. Everything that needs to be modified to obtain the effect you want will be listed there. Then you can apply those changed CV values to the decoder using whatever means you have available.